Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum July 8, 2012

Catch of the Week
Capt. Rick Grassett prepares to release a tarpon caught in the coastal gulf off Sarasota by Randy Honaker, Jr, from Tampa, FL. It was Randy's first tarpon on a fly.

BRADENTON – Next weekend is the 16th Annual DeSoto Fishing Tournament! Then Wednesday is the last chance for public input for the Warner's Bayou renovations. Captain Rick Grassett, one of our contributers, reported seeing an seven or eight foot small tooth sawfish. Historically the species inhabited Tampa Bay, but they were thought to have been extinct in the area. Because of the heat, anglers should get an early start for the best fishing action. Red snapper season was extended by six days -- it will be open until July 16.

Fishing Updates

16th Annual DeSoto Fishing Tournament 

• DeSoto Fishing Tournament Committee members are switching it up a bit by relocating to Tarpon Point Grille and Tiki Bar and Tarpon Pointe Marina this year. 
• Participants will be fishing from July 13 -15, with a weigh-in schedule from 11:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. with the awards party following shortly after.
• The tournament was previously located at the Bradenton Yacht Club.
• Anglers hoping to compete in the event should register by July 6 to receive a discounted early admission fee.

Divisions include offshore, inshore, spearfishing and junior.

• A children’s tournament will be held on Saturday, July 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. Only the first forty applicants may compete. The children’s awards will be held following the tournament.

County Seeks Public Input for Proposed Warner’s Bayou Renovations 

• Local residents, boaters, fishing enthusiasts and environmental supporters are invited to a third public workshop to discuss proposed renovations to Warner’s Bayou boat launch on July 11. 
• The workshop will be held at Palma Sola Elementary School cafeteria, 6806 5th Ave NW, Bradenton. The meeting is open to the public, and it will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a staff presentation that covers a new proposed plan based on public comments earlier this year. 
• Manatee County officials decided to postpone until at least Labor Day, 2012 any proposed repairs and improvements to Warner’s Bayou boat ramp. The ramp was originally scheduled to be closed for repair and upgrades in March, but many residents near the popular boat launch asked to have more input. County officials and staff met with concerned residents at the launch in March and again at Palma Sola Elementary School in April to ask for their feedback for the park. 
• For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501.

Weekly Fishing Report by Captain Rick Grassett 

Conditions were good for tarpon fishing last week, although following a full moon on Tuesday they weren’t aggressive. Anglers fishing the coastal Gulf of Mexico off Sarasota with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key had numerous shots at tarpon with a fly and caught and released one early in the week. We are still seeing some large schools of tarpon, that may not have spawned yet, as well as singles, doubles and small schools traveling both north and south.

I saw something on Monday that I’ve never seen before in 22 years of guiding and more than 30 years on the water in Sarasota, an endangered smalltooth sawfish. The big fish, approximately 7 feet to 8 feet long was swimming in clear, shallow water with a small cobia following. I paralleled the prehistoric fish for several minutes and we got a good look at it as we cast to the cobia. In addition to its “saw”, the fish is distinguished by an extra fin between its dorsal and tail fins. We also had several shots at tarpon with a fly and a DOA shrimp on spinning tackle that day.

Randy Honaker, from Ohio, his son, Randy, Jr. from Tampa, Fla., and son-in-law, Justin, tarpon fished with me on Tuesday. Tarpon were plentiful on the incoming tide. They had shots at numerous schools of tarpon, which were mostly moving north. Randy, Jr. jumped and landed a 65-pound tarpon on a bunny fly out of a small school of 8 or 10 fish. A great job with his first tarpon on a fly!

We had lots of shots at tarpon with a fly the rest of the week. Although we had a few leans and follows, we didn’t have any other bites. Large schools of tarpon look impressive, but sometimes pre spawn tarpon are so focused on migrating to spawn that eating becomes secondary to them. Late in the season, singles, doubles and smaller schools of tarpon are fish that may have already spawned and are usually more aggressive when it comes to eating.

Tarpon should be in a better mood next week as we approach the quarter phase of the moon on Tuesday. Fly anglers should do best with tarpon in shallow water when visibility is best. Trout, blues and redfish should also be good options in Sarasota Bay. Fish the bay early for the best action due to heat later in the day.

Tight Lines,

Capt. Rick Grassett

FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor

Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year

Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.

(941) 923-7799

E-mail snookfin@aol.com

www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com

Fishing Forecast

To create a forecast specific to your zip code visit www.wunderground.com

The subtropical ridge axis will remain parked over the northeast Gulf of Mexico for the next several days. Winds and seas will be low through Monday night with only a slight increase near the coast with the development of the sea breeze each afternoon. A weak trough passing through the Florida Straits on Tuesday may bring a slightly stronger easterly flow to the southern half of the coastal waters...however no headlines are anticipated.

Monday

Northeast winds around 5 knots becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth then becoming a light chop in the afternoon. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Monday night will bring north winds around 5 knots becoming northeast overnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

2012/07/09Mon05:40 a.m.1.85H

2012/07/09Mon12:13 p.m.0.88L

2012/07/09Mon05:26 p.m.1.69H

Tuesday

East winds around 5 knots becoming southwest 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning then a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Tuesday night will bring southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

2012/07/10Tue12:12 a.m.0.64L

2012/07/10Tue06:15 a.m.1.97H

2012/07/10Tue01:31 p.m.0.77L

2012/07/10Tue06:47 p.m.1.46H

Wednesday

Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms each afternoon and evening.

2012/07/11Wed12:46 a.m.0.84L

2012/07/11Wed06:55 a.m.2.07H

2012/07/11Wed02:50 p.m.0.62L

2012/07/11Wed08:33 p.m.1.32H

Thursday

Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms each afternoon and evening.

2012/07/12Thu01:23 a.m.1.02L

2012/07/12Thu07:40 a.m.2.15H

2012/07/12Thu04:04 p.m.0.46L

2012/07/12Thu10:28 p.m.1.3H

Friday

Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms each afternoon and evening.

2012/07/13Fri02:05 a.m.1.17L

2012/07/13Fri08:29 a.m.2.22H

2012/07/13Fri05:08 p.m.0.29L

Solunar Forecast